Local Section Public Relations Awards

These awards are given to local sections by the Committee on Public Relations and Communications in an effort to recognize outstanding efforts by local sections to promote chemistry to the public.

Two awards are given each year, one recognizing new public relations programs by local sections and one recognizing the continuing public relations programs of local sections. These awards are presented annually at the fall national meeting each year during the ChemLuminary Awards Ceremony.

2011 Award Winners

Best New Public Relations Program of a Local Section

Chicago Local Section

The 2011 award is presented to the Chicago Local Section and its Public Relations Committee for the production of a series of eight videos with chemist interviews, footage from the Section’s Chemistry Day activities, and members answering the questions “What Got You Into Chemistry?” and “What Brought You to the ACS?” The videos were promoted by social media and reached approximately 1,000 scientists, educators, students, and members of the general public.

Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program of a Local Section

Georgia Local Section

The 2011 award is presented to the Georgia Local Section for its public relations emphasis during outreach events at high school and college science fairs and career expos. Georgia Section members reached 1,130 students, parents, and teachers with the messages that everything on earth is a product of chemistry and chemists and chemistry are essential to society.

The 2011 LSPR awards were announced during the 2012 ChemLuminary Awards Celebration. Visit the 2012 ChemLuminary Award Winners web page for more information.

2010 Award Winners

Best New Public Relations Program of a Local Section

Greater Houston Local Section

This award is presented to the Greater Houston section for its participation in the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Energy Conservation Club kickoff, creating posters to demonstrate patron’s newfound knowledge in water conservation and alternative energies.

Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program of a Local Section

Richland Local Section

The award is presented for their "Girls in Science” program, a hands-on investigation inviting more than 100 girls to use critical-thinking and interdisciplinary techniques to solve the question, "Is this an alien attack?”

2009 Award Winners

Best New Public Relations Program of a Local Section

Portland Local Section

The 2010 Award is presented to Portland, Oregon, for its effort to introduce high school chemistry teachers to the Section and the ACS by hand-delivering more than 250 Merck Indices to schools throughout the state

Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program of a Local Section

Delaware Local Section

The 2010 Award is presented to Delaware for its year-round Kids & Chemistry program which reached over 5,000 children and adults in every school district in the state, private and parochial schools, and scout troops.

2008 Award Winners

Best New Public Relations Program of a Local Section

Pittsburgh Local Section

The Pittsburgh section was recognized for partnering with local organizations to organize "The Future of Energy Symposium," a discussion with local significance that brought the community together with scientists from across the region.

Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program of a Local Section

Chicago Local Section

The Chicago section was recognized for extensive use of their website as a communications tool, launch of the ACS branding initiative, and partnership with local science organizations.

2006 Award Winners

Best New Public Relations Program of a Local Section

Georgia

The activities of the Georgia Section's Hospitality Committee for the 2006 Atlanta National ACS Meeting supported ACS President Ann Nalley's "Ensuring the Future" theme, and the need for innovation in the physical sciences expressed in President Bush's 2006 "State of the Union" speech.

Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program of a Local Section

Puerto Rico

The section established five major activities allowing direct interaction with more than 4,000 persons through Mega Chemistry Shows and Demonstrations. These initiatives opened new frontiers and possibilities for the section to partner with local government, industry and academia.

More Information

For more information on the Local Section Public Relations (LSPR) awards or the ACS Community Recognition Awards, please visit the following:

Nominate Your Local Section – Nominations for the LSPR awards are submitted through the Local Section Annual Report. If you have participated in a local section activity that should be nominated for these awards, contact your local section leaders.

Committee on Public Relations and Communications – The CPRC is a Joint Board-Council committee charged with advising the ACS Office of Public Affairs and with addressing the presentation of chemistry through the public media. The CPRC sponsors the LSPR awards.

ACS Community Recognition Awards – These awards give ACS members and student affiliates an opportunity to recognize outstanding accomplishments, achievements or service for those who have made a positive impact on everyday life.

For more information about these award winners and the LSPR Awards, please contact the ACS Office of Public Affairs (lspr@acs.org, or 1-800-227-5558, extension 4400).